[Video/Action] Arrival- Hunt #1

[awshift]

[Genessia]
It’s probably not at all surprising to see someone new stumble out of the Bay, given the influx of newcomers in recent weeks. The cape is a little worse for wear, just as the scales of the sleek leather armor below are covered in mud, and blood, and deep, angry marks from what surely must have been a blade.

He’s alone, and the pack of wolves he had been running with hadn’t woken up with him in that strange pod.

Sore and doing his best to hide his weary stumbling, despite the strange healing, Kieran makes his way further into the city, looking for a seat at the very least, or someone to explain what the hell is going on.

[VIDEO/Commons]
A man appears onscreen, freshly showered and in a simple dark blue shirt, the lone two buttons near the top unbuttoned at his throat and a towel still atop his head where he tiredly shakes away the remaining water.

“I appreciate the hospitality and the lodging, but the other cities…Can someone tell me of them? I’ve been told the other areas might be more similar to my Court, and I’d like to start looking for my own accommodations, if I’m to be here as long as they’ve suggested.” He shrugs, looking more at the divice he’s speaking to than the actual camera itself. What a strange little caster… “The illusion was informative, but I’d like to hear from those who live in the areas themselves.” He smiles courteously, though the look in his eyes says its a controlled, practiced motion. “Alternatively, if anyone knows of a particularly good tavern or of an area in which to hunt, I would also be grateful.”

[Everglade/Fayren]
Much later in the afternoon, hedging toward dusk, one might spot a rather large wolf prowling the area, tending to its own business, but keen eyed and curious nonetheless. Something about it seems… off. It’s too graceful, too focused on things that couldn’t possibly be prey… and by the way the silver in its eyes seems to swirl and disappear into dark inky shadow as its attention shifts, it certainly can’t just be an animal.

Comments

[awshift]

Fate has quite the debt.

[His own account with them was... substantial to say the least. He shifted his gaze to her.]

I would be a pitiful stallion if I didn't. [He snorted.]

[li_amaranth]

[Another toss of her head and flicker of her tail. Good, then he might be worth something after all.]

Then Run with me.

[It wasn't a request. Li was already taking off through the woods whether he followed or not.]

[awshift]

[He drew back in confusion, thrown off by the sudden request, and watched her a moment before he followed. Why not?

It wouldn't take him long to catch up with her, hooves thundering with each movement. Darkness swirled and twined about his legs.]

[li_amaranth]

[For a moment or two she wasn't sure if he was going to follow or not until she heard the thunder of hooves behind her.

She shot a glance over her shoulder before she picked up her speed, challenging him.]

[awshift]

[He snorted when she checked to see if he had followed, then picked up his own pace, easily keeping step with her. The challenge was...nice surprisingly, even if that pang of guilt bit at him. Somewhere, his pack was having to make due without him.]

[li_amaranth]

[And somewhere in the afterlife, her herd was without her. Lithium might have a little sympathy if she knew what he was thinking about but, right now.. she was more interested in running.

She heard his hoof beats catch up to hers and then kept going, weaving in and out of the trees easily as she kept her course towards a river she knew about. If he could run, could he swim?]

[awshift]

[Admittedly, he might have been surprised at how agile she was, given her current state, but when she turned toward what smelled like a river, he only huffed a snort.

Naturally. Of course a Kelpie would turn to the water.

He wove after her, not slowing even as the darkness licked at his hooves, then coiled up his legs as he ran. Kieran certainly wouldn't be backing down any time soon, even if he would have to have his wits about him. Despite his abilities, he wasn't foolish enough to think himself clever enough to outsmart a born Kelpie in her natural surroundings.

At least, in this form.]

[li_amaranth]

[Even in her current malnourished state Li was still a force to be reckoned with as she moved through the forest surrounding them. She had spent too long locked away from this form that even things like this were an exhilarating joy to her! That and it's been centuries since she's run with anyone and may just be enjoying the sound of hoof beats echoing hers.

The river was quickly coming into view as she kept going, full speed towards it. Whether he was able to keep up with her while in her true element was something she wanted to see for herself. So naturally she was going to test him.

The moment her hooves hit the water, she was rushing into the deeper part of the river until her back was submerged beneath the rushing waves. She glanced back at him as her form shifted a bit more, becoming more suitable for the water before she delved beneath the waves and waited to see just what he might do.

Would he follow her or would he stay on the bank?]

[awshift]

[The moment she hit the water, he grinned to himself, taking advantage of the splashing waves to envelop himself in the dark power, and slide into the water behind her, his stallion form melting away into something much sleeker, much smaller.

And much more adorable.

Beaneath the surface, and otter would swish past her, a deep chuckle following after it as he waved a small hand at her.]

[li_amaranth]

[She was surprised to find that it wasn't a stallion that joined her in the water and it took her a moment to realize he changed into something smaller.

An otter? Li paused to look at him curiously before surging to life and following. Now she was curious as to what he would do as an otter while she was still very much a horse in water.. well, a horse with a fishy back half to support her aquatic form. There were reasons she was so good at swimming as a siren.]

[awshift]

[That amusement only grew as she surged after him, and he picked up his own pace, darkness trailing after him. She was much bigger now, but he was still quick and frighteningly agile, even in this new form. While she would quickly overtake him, he'd make a show of it by swimming circles around her, careful to dodge her hooves and tail.]

Ah, so that's how that works...

[li_amaranth]

[Yeah, that's how it works. Li was twisted in the water, following his motions as she did her own rolls and twists, gracefully gliding with a flick of her tail and her front legs tucked in close to her body.

The way she moved may not be as quick as his movements but, Li was agile in the water or as agile as she could be with her form before she snorted at him and playfully snapped before diving down towards the bottom of the river bed and settling there. At least she could breathe underwater.

[awshift]

[He was careful to avoid her movements, impressed with her grace and speed, even at that size. He jerked back at the snap, but grinned after her, watching as she settled at the base of the river, then moving toward her... completely at leisure. He had a few minutes to spare, at least, and when those ran out...

...well. Cute and fuzzy forms weren't all he had at his disposal.]

[li_amaranth]

[Then she looked forward to see what else he might be able to do. Li could stay underwater for however long she liked while she was like this. For now, she let the little otter swim towards her, tilting her head to watch him curiously as her mane wavered in the water around her.

Meanwhile her tail shifted against the rocks and sand at the bottom of the river, curling slightly as her fins shifted like her mane did. For fins that looked tattered and worn, that didn't stop her. There was something both ethereal and beautiful about her settled there and so very, very dangerous. ]

[awshift]

[So... extremely dangerous.

Kier only floated around her, studying her curiously. This...might be a terrible idea. He might have fallen right into the perfect trap.

Even still, something about her didn't strike her as feral, at least, not in the moment. Ethereal, yes, perhaps even haunting, but... he certainly wasn't afraid of her.

...but then, it never hurt to be cautious. He studied her for a moment longer, then spun himself into that darkness again, emerging this time as an... almost mirror image of her. Bigger of course, and with that same inky shimmer he had donned before, but... not bad for a first try.

...Maybe so long as he stayed still, she might not realize how awkward he might move in an unfamiliar form.

[li_amaranth]

Whether it was a trap or no initially was hard to tell but, the moment he shifted into a stallion of her kind, she was sitting up a bit straighter with her ears completely forward. Its been centuries since she’s seen another of her own kind let alone a male.

Very reluctantly she began to move slowlu drifting towards him to check out his newest form curiously. Eventually she shifts to settle against his side and leans against him, testingto see what he might allow as her fins sway in the rivers current.